Auston Matthews Rookie Cards Checklist

Like other top overall draft picks, Auston Matthews came into his rookie season with high expectations from fans and collectors. Although the hype did not quite match that of Connor McDavid, Matthews received a lot of attention and he has not disappointed. Auston Matthews rookie cards have seen tremendous interest and value thanks to his strong play for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Born and raised in the United States, Auston Matthews has helped re-energize the storied Maple Leafs franchise along with fellow rookie Mitch Marner. Of course, he went through hot and cold stretches, but a strong finish to the season earned him the 2016-17 Calder Memorial Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year.

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As is typically the case for first-year players, Auston Matthews rookie cards started off slowly with mainly redemptions to begin the collecting season. However, the options picked up as new rookie cards featuring Matthews continued to roll out.

The list below documents all the Auston Matthew rookie cards from 2016-17 hockey releases, including his key base, autographs, relics and other inserts.

Auston Matthews Rookie Cards Checklist and Gallery

Both of the Auston Matthews rookie autographs in 2016-17 Fleer Showcase are short prints. The main signed version is limited to 99 while the majority of the Hot Prospects set checks in at 499 copies. In addition, the autographed patch card flips to a horizontal layout and drops the print run to just 35 copies. Collectors can also find several 90s-themed inserts for Matthews in greater supply.

2016-17 O-Pee-Chee Platinum Marquee Rookies Auston Matthews RC #151

Although he missed out on the first run of OPC, 2016-17 O-Pee-Chee Platinum puts Matthews on chromium stock. The Marquee Rookies subset is the place for budget collectors to look and the many parallels greatly increase the rarity and variety. Matthews is also found in the on-card Rookie Auto insert as part of Group A, which has overall odds of 1:501 packs. These also bring with them lots of colorful parallels.

One of his more plentiful options at 999 copies, the Matthews rookie in 2016-17 SP Authentic still offers an on-card signature, making it more available than his other signed RC cards. There is also a limited Black Future Watch Autograph with gold ink. Both versions originally came as redemptions. In addition, Matthews is in the Authentic Moments subset with base and autograph versions celebrating his NHL debut.

2016-17 SP Game Used Authentic Rookies Auston Matthews RC #101 #/34

The rarest of the bunch, 2016-17 SP Game Used has Authentic Rookies for the top players that are numbered to their jersey number. For Matthews, that means only 34 copies. While this makes it nearly impossible for the average collector to obtain, parallels are more plentiful. There are also jersey parallels, numbered to 399, as well as very rare autograph and autograph patch versions.

2016-17 SPx Shadow Box Rookies Auston Matthews #75 #/249

One of the more distinct Auston Matthews rookie cards, the Shadow Box Rookies subset in 2016-17 SPx is numbered to 249, but it adds relic and autograph relic editions. Collectors have also shown considerable interest in the Rookies and Extreme Black Holo Shield Autographs for Matthews.

Available in several forms across the primary set, 2016-17 Ultimate gives collectors a base Auston Matthews rookie card in the Ultimate Introductions Rookies subset as part of Level 4, which has overall group odds of 1:12 boxes. He also has a signed Ultimate Rookies cards with an on-card autograph, and one with an autograph patch.

2016-17 Upper Deck Series 1 Hockey Young Guns RC Auston Matthews #201

The flagship rookie set from UD, the Young Guns line typically offers the most popular cards each year and that is also the case for Matthews in 2016-17 Upper Deck Series 1. Despite the simple nature of the card, values are strong. Plus, rare parallels like the acetate Clear Cut, as well as Exclusives (#/100) and High Gloss (#/10), push prices much higher.

Matthews also has a dual checklist card with teammate William Nylander in the base set (#250), along with a very limited NHL Draft short print card that is shown below.

Although his primary Young Guns cards arrived in Series 1, 2016-17 Upper Deck Series 2 is the place to find the Auston Matthews UD Canvas YG card.

In addition, despite missing out on the main OPC set, his base O-Pee-Chee rookie is still an option thanks to an update in Upper Deck Series 2. He has both the standard Marquee Rookies subset and the Retro variation.

One of the earliest ’16-17 cards that can be tied to Matthews, most collectors suspected these 2016-17 Artifacts redemptions would yield Auston Matthews rookie cards despite not naming him on the card. Upper Deck later confirmed both for the Maple Leafs’ young stud. The base rookie is on the left while card #I comes as various relics and autograph editions.

Because of several delays, 2016-17 UD Black is the final Auston Matthews rookie card issued for the season instead of The Cup. The set includes the main Matthews option in the Lustrous Rookies subset. Hard-signed, Matthews is a short print with just 99 copies. He is also in many of the signed inserts.

Taking the name quite seriously, 2016-17 UD Black Diamond includes actual diamonds in the primary rookie set. The Diamond Relic Rookies also come in single, double and triple form, with Matthews as the sole quad diamond rookie.

Also worth noting is the Rookie Gems insert for Matthews that is bit more affordable and plentiful at 399 base copies.